ANOTHER city centre restaurant has closed its doors - this time
after evidence of rats was found in food preparation areas.

Mr Ho's Vietnamese and Cantonese restaurant is the third city
centre establishment to close its doors voluntarily in just 24 hours, as
the council's environmental health team cracks down on hygiene
issues.

But, unlike the cases of the Lobster Pot chip shop, in Whitechapel,
and Piccolino, in Cook Street - where bosses voluntarily closed down to
address hygiene issues - the problems at Mr Ho's restaurant appear
far more serious.

A council notice in the window of the Victoria Street premises
explains that during an inspection, officers found evidence of "rat
activity" in a food preparation area in the basement.

The notice added the restaurant's "main food preparation
area was also unclean, to the extent that it could provide a source of
food for pests."

The inspector's comments said the presence of rats posed
"an immediate risk to health."

Visiting the restaurant yesterday, it was clear the decision to
close had been made swiftly, with tables ready for customers - but
no-one around to comment.

Liverpool City Council has confirmed that the restaurant has been
served with an immediate prohibition notice, forcing it to close down.

The matter will now come before Liver-pool Magistrates this
afternoon - where the restaurant's owners will have a chance to
fight the order.

A spokesman for the city council said: "On investigation,
officers discovered hygiene issues of a nature which deemed the
necessity to issue a prohibition notice, forcing the closure of the
business.

"This matter will now go before Magistrates Court."

This is not the first time the premises in question has had issues
with hygiene.

In 2012 - when it was called Shangri-La - the site was forced to
shut after a customer found a cockroach in their food. Subsequent
inspections found a cockroach infestation and rodent droppings.
Following a court case, the restaurant said there had been a change in
management and a new owner and it changed its name to Mr Ho's.

But it would appear that the problems at the site have continued,
with yesterday's news that more rats have been found and the
restaurant has been shut down.

The ECHO has attempted to contact the restaurant's owners but
has received no response.

CAPTION(S):

Mr Ho's, on Victoria Street, has closed after environmental
health officers found evidence of rats; and, inset, right, the sign on
the door

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